The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-09-28
A HAUNTED HOUSE.

Just brought up the clean clothes in q
basket. Miss Clifford turned 20 hen
with the utmost gravity Of voice and
manner.
~Ellen.p said she, did you ever have
lcver?"
Sorra one, miss, ans Sered the girl,
showing her white teeth in a smile.
Then Won never have refused one2 :
~No more iidn t, miss.'
q Did You ever have sum of money
to invest. and allow yourself 10 be per
shaded bv real estate agent TO buy a
house in the city,"
~Niver Bit Miss Kitty. How could
I9n @
Well then. don't you ever do 50, =
said Kitty. lfTd kept my money, and
married Robert 6albrslih, should have
been happier woman today. As it is,
Tn solitary spinster, with my tenant
vanished into thin air without paying
any rent. and my house and my heart
standing empty"
Sure, miss, why don't ye go and live
in it yourself" said Ellen, and let lodg-
ms? / was a lady wanst as made a dacint
livin' that way"
(Which are you abiding to Ellen
the house or the heart
@The house, miss" said Ellen convul-
sed with giggles. "sure if your heart is
like mine, there amt no room for lodg-
ems in il"
Kitty Clifford considered few min
utes as she drank her cup Of tea, and ate
her slice Of dry toast. Then, all of
sudden, she spoke ont her mind to the
faithful retainer Ellen Mooney, from
County Clare.
@I'ndo it " said she "Pl write to
the agent this very day. Where's the
use of staying here to give music lessons,
when there's no one TO give them to2
How can keep Young Ladies School,
when all the girls who don't attend Miss
Larkins big stone Seminary flock to the
district school? I'm not like a chame
leon. and / can't live on air Wen pack
our few belongings, Ellen, and 90 at
once"
Miss Clifford was true TO her word,-
and it was a raw, windy, November after
noon, verging toward twilight when she
and Ellen, attended by satellite Of the
real estate man stood before the old
red-briek house in the suburbs, surveying
the landed investment.
Goodness me-" said she, "what a
dismal old place."
Its fine piece of property, ma'am,"
said Mr.. Tefcote.
Il don't call this a first class neighbor-
hood" said Kitty, glancing critically
around her.
Oh the neighborhood is sure to inn
prove said Mr.. Teffcote, cheerfully' 1t
is handy to the elevated, you see, and not
great way from the avenue"
"Give me the key" said Kitty. al
suppose we may as well 90 in"
forgot to mention, miss" said Mr.
TefFcote, that my principal had chance
10 let the top floor last week, and
as you mentioned lodgings in your let
ter"
How much =? said Kitty in business
like way.
Fifteen dollars month
Come, that isn't bad for beginning"
said Kitty. 4 suppose it's let to a re-
sponsible party?7
Quite 50, ma'am-his reference was
most satisfactory" declared Mr.. Teff- |
cote
A man, eh +? said Kitty.
oh, yes, miss answered the agents |
young man. And he'll pay every |
month in advance, and guarantees to
make no trouble at all Wants to finish
moving in tomorrow !"
"0h, he's begun, has he ?" questioned |
our heroine
Well, miss" reluctantly admitted |
Teflcote, he has took the libe1ty-with |
Mr.. Buyandsell's permission, of course
to put in one load already You see
the house was standing vacant, and |
there was no telling Just when you
would arrive-and- ladies is so un- 4
certain"
am not uncertain" said Kitty curt /
ly. You may go, Mr. TefTcotelp
1t was dreary first evening that the |
two women spent in the front room of |
the bargain in real estate" that Mr. |
Buyandsell had contrived hoist off |
on Kitty, years ago, before she had 1
learned 10 distrust human nature, and |
while she yet believed that eyerg man
spoke the truth. The fire of coal and |
kindlings bought hurriedly by Ellen |
from the nearest corner grocery, sput-
tered and sulked-the solitary candle 4
persisted in developing a whole under
takers shop full of winding sheets
around its wick, instead of giving out a /
satisfactory light, and the two women
sat shivering together looking with |
timid glahces at the deep shadows in
the angles of the room, and the quain,
plaster decorations of the cornice over
head
Its fearfuly lonesome, Ellen" said
Miss Clifford,
1t won't be so bad, miss, when we've
houseful o dodgers, an carpets on the
floor" encouraged Ellen, who was a de-
cided spinistei.
Ellen, what is that noise?n whisper
ed Kitty, shrinking back
Its the fire cracklin'. mis-
No, its like a moan. 4 piteous
long drawn moan. Every now and
them
Sure miss, it's the wind down the
chimney"
Nonsense, Ellen-the wind is mourn
ful enough. but this far exceeds it. List
EN- Don't you hearit? Let's go and see
where il comes from"
Ellen visibly recoiled.
" If it should be a banshee, miss
there's niver no luck for them as NEEDLES
wild the banshee."
Fiddlesticks g said Miss Clifford. al
will risk the bad luck Take the candle
and III take the poker"
Arrah. miss, We wouldn't raise your
hand against hanshee I" almost scream
ed Ellen